Poppy Delevingne looked downcast on Wednesday as she was spotted for the first time since attending Rita Ora‘s illegal birthday party at the weekend.
The actress, 34, appeared sheepish as she walked down the London street while chatting on her phone, juggling a bottle of Evian and sporting a pair of £650 Gucci GG wool ankle boots and the same fluffy coat she wore to the party.
She was one of the guests at the now-famous party hosted by the Hot Right Now hitmaker at the Casa Cruz restaurant in Notting Hill, West London, on Saturday, where police arrived to check out the lockdown-flouting bash.
Still hungover? Sheepish Poppy Delevingne looked like she was feeling the effects of Rita Ora’s lockdown-flouting 30th party as she becne the first guest to break cover on Wednesday
Rule-breaker: She was one of the guests at the now-famous party hosted by the Hot Right Now hitmaker at the Casa Cruz restaurant in Notting Hill, West London, on Saturday, where police arrived to check out the lockdown-flouting bash
Rita has already agreed to pay a £10,000 fine and profusely apologised for breaking coronavirus rules on large gatherings and household mixing.
While the songstress is yet to be sighted, Poppy stepped out in the capital while keeping a low-profile and shunning her typically glamorous look.
She was sporting the same fluffy shearling coat as she donned on the night of the party, yet the rest of her ensemble was wholly more casual.
Feeling the effects? Poppy was sporting the same fluffy shearling coat as she donned on the night of the party, yet the rest of her ensemble was wholly more casual
Rehydration: She clutched a large bottle of water after pulling her hair down as she headed out wearing £650 Gucci GG wool ankle boots
Spotted: Poppy (pictured at the party) wearing the same coat
Out on the town: Rita has already agreed to pay a £10,000 fine and profusely apologised for breaking coronavirus rules on large gatherings and household mixing (pictured left on the night)
Rita’s £10k fine is the maximum penalty that can be handed down to organisers of gatherings of more than 30 people. Kensington and Chelsea Council has also confirmed it is investigating the alleged breach.
Poppy was joined at the event by her sister Cara as well as TOWIE star Vas Morgan, 31, and Rita’s sister Elena, 32, were all pictured at the venue.
Rita’s party was initially reportedly involving 30 friends, but sources later stressed it was only about seven. During the night, police officers were pictured outside at the eatery as they peered into windows and tried to open one metal door.
Officers were seen outside Rita’s London home and Casa Cruz the next day.
Pensive: She was glued to her phone as she lingered outside wearing her hair in a bun
Facts: Rita’s party was initially reported as involving 30 friends, but sources later stressed it was only about seven
Make-up free: While songstress Rita is yet to be sighted, Poppy stepped out in the capital while keeping a low-profile and shunning her typically glamorous look
When the scandal erupted, Rita released a statement, reading: ‘Hello all, I attended a small gathering with some friends to celebrate my 30th birthday.
‘It was a spur of the moment decision made with the misguided view that we were coming out of lockdown and this would be OK. I’m deeply sorry for breaking the rules and in turn understand that this puts people at risk.
‘This was a serious and inexcusable error of judgement. Given the restrictions, I realise how irresponsible these actions were and I take full responsibility.’
‘I feel particularly embarrassed knowing first-hand how hard people have worked to combat this terrible illness and being fully aware of the sacrifices that people and businesses have made to help keep us all safe…
The celebrity took to Instagram to apologise after being caught out
‘Even though this won’t make it right, I want to sincerely apologise.’
Notting Hill restaurant Casa Cruz, is named after Chilean-born Juan Santa Cruz, who resigned as restaurateur in February. Nicholas Fallows, who is listed as the sole director of Casa Cruz London Ltd, insisted he was unaware of the event.
The breach was a far cry from Rita’s actions earlier this year, when she launched coronavirus safety merchandise, emblazoned with the logo ‘Stop the spread’.
The party came before the government stressed the importance of abiding by restrictions on Sunday, ahead of the UK’s second lockdown ending on Wednesday.
During the night, police officers were pictured outside at the eatery as they peered into windows and tried to open one metal door
At the time of the party, guidelines stated that people should ‘minimise the time spent outside their home’ and avoid meeting others who they do not live with.
People should also avoid physical contact; being close and face-to-face; and shouting or singing close to others who do not share a home with you or who are not in the same support bubble.
Guidelines brought in with the national lockdown on November 5 stated that people must ‘not meet socially indoors with family or friends unless they are part of your household, meaning the people you live with, or your support bubble’.
Restaurants were also closed except for takeaway meals, with any breaking of these guidelines possibly ending up with a hefty fine.
Back then… Rita urged people to ‘stop the spread’ of coronavirus when she stepped out wearing a self-designed motif T-shirt in March
It was later revealed that Rita will no longer appear on the Jonathan Ross show as planned this week MailOnline understands that Rita hopes to appear on the show before Christmas but it was agreed that her appearance would be postponed.
Following the event and subsequent scandal, it has now been reported that Rita has launched a probe to smoke out whoever exposed her lockdown-busting party.
The singer is said to be suspicious that one of her friends tipped off the press and police to her illegal gathering at the Casa Cruz restaurant in Notting Hill, West London, on Saturday.
She has set about trying to identify the culprit, which sources say involves laying traps like Coleen Rooney’s Wagatha Christie investigation.
Big day: The singer shared earlier snaps of other celebrations (pictured on Thursday)
Her birthday party is the subject of a probe itself, and Scotland Yard officers yesterday seized CCTV from the exclusive restaurant, according to the Sun.
But Rita’s attention has now reportedly turned to rooting out which one of her confidantes alerted officers to the party.
An insider told the newspaper: ‘It was meant to be secret, but the fact police and photographers knew it was happening has really made Rita paranoid.
‘She’s now devising a game plan and setting traps in a bid to expose the whistleblower, like Coleen did in the Wagatha Christie drama.’